Dear members, dear fans,
All of us at FC Bayern are still stunned by yesterday's incidents in Hoffenheim. We are ashamed of the behaviour of a few so-called "fans" in the FC Bayern terrace and seating area during the game. Dietmar Hopp was insulted in the worst imaginable way by a few idiots with a banner. He was defamed, from a distance, anonymously, namelessly, and in a cowardly way. The events of yesterday were an absolute low point.
On behalf of the entire club, I would like to apologise once again to Dietmar Hopp for this!
We have just celebrated the 120th anniversary of the founding of FC Bayern - 120 years marked by values such as responsibility, tolerance and respect. FC Bayern will continue to uphold these values. We will not allow our club to be damaged by a tiny minority, people who are not concerned about football and FC Bayern, but about showing off on a stage that does not belong to them.
It is high time to act decisively. Racism, exclusion, insults and discrimination of any kind and against anyone must stop now. This is also the opinion of the overwhelming majority of FC Bayern fans. They are expressing their incomprehension and indignation via all conceivable online platforms, on social media and in numerous emails to us. Our fans stand together, football stands together, against hate, against intolerance, against defamation. The impressive actions of the TSG Hoffenheim players and our team yesterday, when they returned to the pitch after play was suspended a second time and simply passed the ball to each other, has also been well received. It was a powerful signal. Football must stand for togetherness instead of division. Solidarity is the right sign against exclusion and hostility.
In the next few days, the relevant bodies at FC Bayern Munich will meet and talk. We will examine all the options to prevent a repetition of events as undignified as those of yesterday in Hoffenheim. We will also use all the means at our disposal to take decisive action against those who have discredited FC Bayern and the whole of German football, and trampled on our values. We are aware of our responsibility for FC Bayern Munich. That is why it is crystal clear to us today: it cannot go on like this!
Herbert Hainer, FC Bayern Munich president
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